Early defoliation

[bonsaiboy50]

I had to defoliate all my figs early this year due to some disease that effected the leaves. I still do not know if it was a fungal disease or something else . Despite a bit of dieback and the loss of a few minor branches they all seem to be shooting back well.

[Rory]

Yes, hello again FigDoctor.... I remember that thread. That's good to hear, though keep monitoring it closely obviously. Like all possible diseases, they may be quite difficult to completely eradicate and may require constant diligence. Beautiful figs you have mate.

On the coast here, we have an enemy that we basically just have to keep 'at bay'. Myrtle Rust... or as I call the bastard... the Dirty Mirty! It is now endemic on the coast here, so we just manage it forever. You can eradicate it from your collection, but because it lives in the bush now, once the spores spread, it is best to just spray your collection with something like triforine once every few months more as a deterant. Actually, I might start a new thread about Myrtle Rust actually just to help others that get it.

[bonsai_beginner]

That is an incredible fig!!! Wow I'm seriously impressed! How old is it?


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[bonsaiboy50]

I have had this fig for about 35 years. It was collected in the bush where it was growing over a large boulder with thick roots growing over the boulder into the ground. It had been partially burnt and was just shooting back so I cut the large roots off and cleaned it up a bit, then left it for 12 months. After 12 months I returned and collected it. My best guess as to its age when I collected it would be about 20 years old so it would be roughly 55 to 60 years old.

That is an incredible fig!!! Wow I'm seriously impressed! How old is it?


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[bonsaiboy50]

Thanks Rory, I will be spraying my trees on a regular basis this year to try an avoid all the problems I had earlier.

Yes, hello again FigDoctor.... I remember that thread. That's good to hear, though keep monitoring it closely obviously. Like all possible diseases, they may be quite difficult to completely eradicate and may require constant diligence. Beautiful figs you have mate.

On the coast here, we have an enemy that we basically just have to keep 'at bay'. Myrtle Rust... or as I call the bastard... the Dirty Mirty! It is now endemic on the coast here, so we just manage it forever. You can eradicate it from your collection, but because it lives in the bush now, once the spores spread, it is best to just spray your collection with something like triforine once every few months more as a deterant. Actually, I might start a new thread about Myrtle Rust actually just to help others that get it.

[Isitangus]

Hi bonsai boy
First off cracking tree!
Second-what were the symptoms or how did the disease manifest?


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[bonsaiboy50]

The symptoms were a yellowing of the leaves and rust spots, see pic, resulting in the leaves dying and falling off. Some trees were fully effected and others only in patches. The worse effected trees suffered full defoliation and some di -back of branches.
I treated the trees with anti fungal sprays but it had little effect. In the 35 years I have been growing figs I have never had this problem .

Hi bonsai boy
First off cracking tree!
Second-what were the symptoms or how did the disease manifest?


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[hoody6980]

Hi mate
Great fig!!!
I have had a similar thing happen to my figs, kind of wrote it off as perhaps a bit of frost burn as we had a ridiculously cold winter this year with a lot of frosts???
Where abouts are you situated?

[AndyC]

Hi Bonsaiboy50.... I have the same problem here on the Central Coast (nsw). Like you it was sporadic, some figs got it and others next to the affected tree didn't. Tried sprays, also did nothing. Just defoliated affect trees, dumped leaves in the bin sprayed and watered with seasol then placed in the sunniest part of the yard.

[Reece]

I have this in Sydney on a port Jackson and a little ruby. It seems to be going away as the weather gets warmer....

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[bonsaiboy50]

The problem did not seem to effect the general health of the figs and they seem to be shooting back well from there early defoliation.

I have this in Sydney on a port Jackson and a little ruby. It seems to be going away as the weather gets warmer....

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[Reece]

The problem did not seem to effect the general health of the figs and they seem to be shooting back well from there early defoliation.

I have this in Sydney on a port Jackson and a little ruby. It seems to be going away as the weather gets warmer....

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Good to hear....

[shibui]

I have this or something very similar on my figs most winters. As mentioned, it does seem to disappear as the weather warms up later in spring although I often have smaller twigs die back afterward. Note that I live in a COOL part of Aus. Nights down to -5C this winter and below 0C most nights every winter. Figs live in an unheated poly tunnel 'glasshouse all year round here.
This winter I sprayed a fungicide and I seem to have far less affected leaves this time maybe it depends on the fungicide used Andy?

[bonsaiboy50]

I have often wondered how much a fig of this size and age would be worth. I have no plans to sell it at the moment but what would people be prepared to pay for it? Just don't tell the wife what its worth

[kez]

G'Day bonsai boy,

Mate had exactly the same issue this winter with figs, no idea why?

I have tried dilute lime sulphur in the past with no success, does anybody have any ideas?

As to price, id have to say at least $5,000 ans to the right buyer most likely more but who wants to sell a tree like that!